ASTM International Committee D18 on Soil and Rock invites all interested parties to participate in a new task group, D18.01.03 on Coal Mining Spatial Data Standards. The task group, which is chaired by Joseph Ritchey, Pro2Serve-Professional Project Services, is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and Subsurface Characterization.

The new task group was established at the request of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining. Standards developed by the task group will allow for better enforcement of mining laws and faster, more effective response to mining-related emergencies. In addition, the standards will help to protect both the environment and people from the potential impacts of coal mining.

Proposed standards to be developed by the task group will present guidelines for the exchange of coal-mining spatial data among state, tribal and OSM offices. The task group is seeking participation from public interest groups and industry representatives who are interested in contributing to the development of coal mining geospatial data standards. OSM is assisting the task group through its Technical Innovation and Professional Services program, which provides advanced engineering and scientific software to organizations involved in regulating coal mines and reclaiming land disturbed by mining.

“Establishing agreement among all our business partners concerning the coal-mining geospatial data we create, use, and exchange is fundamental to improving our understanding of the potential environmental impacts of surface coal mining operations,” according to Billie Clark, Jr., chief of OSM’s Technology Management Division. “It will help us better address and resolve a variety of problems associated with coal mining and reclamation operations. To establish coal-mining geospatial data standards that are recognized by ASTM International will indeed be to have accomplished a first.” //